Evolutionary War

The High Evolutionary deems the genetic dead-ends of the world a detriment to the advancement of humanity. He orders such races sterilized, beginning with the stagnant, genetic offshoots of the Deviants, the Subterraneans. His Purifiers travel to the vast underground caverns that house to these creatures and begin their mass-sterilization, but the Subterraneans prove unexpectedly defiant. One Moloid in particular, a mutant named Val-or with immense psychic powers, emits a powerful telepathic distress signal which alerts both Apocalypse’s horseman Caliban and X-Factor’s Marvel Girl to the eugenics operation. While X-Factor travels underground to help the Subterraneans, Apocalypse confronts the High Evolutionary in his orbiting base of operations and challenges his ideology. He considers the High Evolutionary’s plans for human evolution artificial, as he does the hard work for the subject. The best path, according to Apocalypse, is to simply create harsh environments which allow only the fittest to survive. To demonstrate, Apocalypse transports him to the Subterraneans underground home, where they witness the Moloid Val-or leading his species to victory through unity and strategy. The High Evolutionary realizes that the Subterraneans are not an evolutionary dead-end after all; it simply took a little hardship for their strength to emerge. Apocalypse, it seems, was right. [X-Factor Annual #3]

Despite being proven wrong and admitting to his own impatience, however, the High Evolutionary continues with his genetic cleansing, now focusing on the human gene pool. Believing drugs to be a scourge on humanity, as well as a possible, unpredictable mutagen, the High Evolutionary orders the Purifiers to curb the supply of cocaine coming from Colombia. One such target is the drug lord El Caiman. Incidentally, while in Bogota, they encounter another target on the High Evolutionary’s list: the Punisher, whose mental instability they deem dangerous. Although the Punisher had also hoped to eliminate El Caiman, he forges an alliance with the drug lord instead in order to escape the wrath of the Purifiers. The two unlikely allies prove to be worthy opponents. Together, they kill each of the invading Purifiers, striking yet another, albeit minor, blow to the High Evolutionary’s plot. [Punisher Annual #1]

In addition to removing the setbacks to human evolution, the High Evolutionary also explores more proactive means of advancing humanity. He decides to research the genetic unknowns of the universe, including humanoids like the Silver Surfer, because he has nothing left to learn from simple human genetics. By appealing to the Eternals’ sense of protectiveness over humanity, he convinces them to capture the Silver Surfer so he can map his DNA. Upon confrontation, however, the Silver Surfer has many objections. He disagrees with the High Evolutionary’s insistence on taking what is natural about a species and artificially advancing it. He also objects to his individuality being spread amongst an entire race. He comes to the conclusion that in order to make an educated decision, he needs to spend time with the High Evolutionary and listen to his thoughts firsthand. At that point, he will decide whether or not he wants to support or oppose the plan. The Silver Surfer departs from the Eternals on friendly terms and heads out to find the High Evolutionary. [Silver Surfer Annual #1]

Meanwhile, the High Evolutionary orders his Purifiers to capture and forcibly nullify mutants whose powers pose a threat to the development of humanity. Among their targets are the radioactive mutants Bulk and Glow Worm, and Magma, the former pupil of Charles Xavier. The Purifiers capture Magma right in front of her lover, Empath, who indirectly enlists the aid of both the Hellfire Club and, through eavesdropping, the New Mutants. Magik transports her fellow New Mutants directly into the headquarters of the Purifier base in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. They rescue Magma before she loses her powers, while Mirage frees the depowered Bulk and Glow Worm, both of whom are quickly dying from radiation poisoning. Unfortunately, one of the Purifiers throws Mirage under the power-stripping machine and she loses her own mutant abilities as well. The grateful Bulk and Glow Worm realize they can help her, however, and switch the machine’s functionality to its restorative setting. Their final act not only restores Mirage’s abilities her abilities, but accelerates them beyond their previous capabilities. Whereas previously she could create mere illusions, upon emerging from the machine she physically manifest her mirages. Using this new power, the New Mutants quickly defeat the remaining Purifiers, and retreat just as the Hellfire Club arrives. [New Mutants Annual #4]

Meanwhile, the High Evolutionary’s escalating war on drugs reaches the streets of New York City. In addition to eradicating petty drug dealers, the Purifiers initiate a massive sterilization plan for all the residents of the city they deem unworthy of procreation. Kingpin, the drug-lord of New York City, grows alarmed at the threat posed to his drug trafficking by the Purifiers and, after some aggressive interrogation, learns not only the extent of power hierarchy of the Purifiers, but also the location of their base in New York atop the Empire State Building. He wants it destroyed. Incidentally, he learns of Spider-Man’s recent quest to clear his name of murder, and uses it to his advantage. His informants supply Spider-Man and his ally Daredevil with false information that fingers the Purifiers for framing Spider-Man. The heroic duo proceeds to the Purifier headquarters atop the Empire State Building. Upon arriving, they discover the Purifiers have created a weapon set to go off at midnight and, without knowing exactly what it does, fight to stop it. Although they destroy the device’s control terminal, it does nothing to stop the countdown. Unbeknownst to them, they are aided by the new superhero Speedball, who followed a pair of murderous Purifiers to the base and uncovered their plan to “eradicate” the genetic unfit of New York City. Speedball spots an abnormal antenna on top of the building and deduces its sinister purpose: to broadcast the signal designed to implement the eugenics program. He single-handedly takes it out, saving the day. After the Purifiers in New York are defeated, the grateful Kingpin confides in his chief advisor that the recent events both in New York and all around the world worry him, and he fears the world may be changing for the worse. [Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22]

The High Evolutionary, still seeking a method of jump-starting humanity’s genetic standing, learns of the existence of the mutagenic Terrigen Mist. He decides he must have it, and brings his Purifiers to the home of the Inhumans on Earth’s moon to take the Mist by force, even garnering Uatu the Watcher’s attention. The Purifiers nearly succeed in conquering the Inhumans. However, salvation arrives in an unlikely form: the recently reformed, and currently depowered, Quicksilver. His noble, selfless leadership holds the Purifiers at bay long enough for the rest of the Inhumans to gather help from Crystal and the Fantastic Four. The High Evolutionary and his troops withdraw in defeat. [Fantastic Four Annual #21]

Perhaps perturbed by his string of defeats, the High Evolutionary takes a much more benevolent effort for the next portion of his plan. He travels to the scorched Savage Land and devises a means of restoring it. As he walks its barren earth, however, he is attacked by the monstrous robot Terminus. Fortunately for the High Evolutionary, the X-Men, having followed a distraught Storm to the Savage Land, intervene and rescue him before burying Terminus under an avalanche. The High Evolutionary explains to the X-Men the recent tragedy that befell the Savage Land, but adds he has a plan to restore it and, upon Storm’s approval, invites Havok to visit his nearby lab. While at the citadel, the High Evolutionary shows Havok his machine capable of restoring the Savage Land, but explains he needs an entity with a primal connection to the land to serve as its catalyst.

Meanwhile, Terminus emerges from the rubble and attacks the X-Men. They fight back and, with the help of C’Jime and the surviving Savage Land residents, eventually defeat it. However, they discover the machine is but a cheap imitation of the true Terminus, and reveal its operator to be none other than an entranced Garokk! After awaking from his trance, Garokk sees what has happened to the Savage Land and is distraught. For answers, he turns to the High Evolutionary, who explains he can restore the Savage Land with Garokk’s help. As it turns out, because of his primal connection to the Savage Land, Garokk possesses the very same qualities the High Evolutionary needs to restore it to its former glory. He volunteers to act as the catalyst in the procedure, which disperses his spirit throughout the Savage Land, restoring it to its former, vibrant state. [Uncanny X-Men Annual #12]

In Florida, the High Evolutionary initiates a three-tiered plan to cleanse the gene pool and eliminate unpredictable variables that might derail his plans. His targets include local drug dealers, a spatial distortion in the Florida Everglades known as the Nexus of All Realities that often acts as a gateway for so-called genetic pollutants, and any entities that have entered that particular plane of reality through this nexus. One such entity currently possesses a motel maid in Miami named Cecelia. The Purifiers hunt her down just as the entity awakens inside and takes control of her body. This awakening saves Cecelia’s life, as it allows her to defeat the Purifiers. The entity then compels her to travel back to the nexus so it can return home. Meanwhile, another squad of Purifiers, bearing a mysterious machine, travels through the Everglades in search of the nexus. Once they find it, the High Evolutionary activates the mystery device via remote, and it emits a piercing, sonic screech that tears the sky asunder. Although several of the Purifiers die in the process, the High Evolutionary considers it a sacrifice necessary for the betterment of mankind. Elsewhere, a group of drug-traffickers arrives at their secret cocaine cache in the Everglades only to encounter Spider-Man, who happens to be in the area for journalistic pursuits. The drug-traffickers fail to realize a group of Purifiers tracked them through the swamp, however, and find themselves engaged in a brutal gunfight. Spider-Man recognizes the Purifiers from their earlier encounter in New York City and refrains from fighting. At this same time, Cecelia arrives and the entity exits her body and enters the nexus. Also at this same time, Man-Thing arrives and begins killing the intruders in his swamp, but Spider-Man subdues the survivors to spare them from Man-Thing’s wrath. In the end, although the Purifiers succeed in eliminating some petty drug-pushers, they fail in both of their high-priority missions: ridding the area of extra-dimensional entities, and closing the Nexus of All Realities. [Web of Spider-Man Annual #4]

Back at his Savage Land citadel, the High Evolutionary oversees the progress of the genetic bomb, the most ambitious of his grand designs. This bomb, when detonated, will accelerate the evolution of every human on the planet. However, its completion requires vibranium, so he dispatches a group of his Purifiers to raid the vibranium deposits of Wakanda. Unbeknownst to the High Evolutionary, in his employment is former Avenger Bill Foster, previously known as Black Goliath. Foster now decides to act as a mole and slips a note into one of the Wakanda-bound Purifier’s uniforms, urging the Black Panther to contact Henry Pym of the Avengers for help.

The Purifiers arrive in Wakanda but are swiftly defeated by the Black Panther and his warriors. He discovers the note and summons Hawkeye, Vision, Wonder-Man, Mantis and the Scarlet Witch of the West Coast Avengers. Shortly after they arrive, however, Black Panther receives a distress call from the technicians at the vibranium mine. The Avengers head there as fast as they can and, upon arriving, are faced with a team of the High Evolutionary’s specially modified warriors known as the Sensors. Although initially overpowered, the Avengers rally and eventually defeat Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste, Touch and Intuition. However, they fail to stop one of the Purifiers from grabbing a generous supply of vibranium ore and teleporting it back to the Savage Land.

Meanwhile, Mockingbird, Moon Rider and Tigra, currently acting as a rogue offshoot of the West Coast Avengers, arrive in the Savage Land and are surprised to find it restored to its vibrant state. They travel to the High Evolutionary’s citadel to learn why he saved the land. After telling them why, he reveals his plan to detonate the mutation-inducing gene bomb. The Avengers predictably object, forcing the High Evolutionary to put them in prison. Although each of them break free of their cells, only Mockingbird actually manages to make it back to the High Evolutionary’s chamber but, being a mere baseline human, she is quickly defeated. Nevertheless, the arrival of these Avengers is enough to convince Bill Foster the Avengers received his plea. He decides to take the plunge and drinks a serum which reintroduces his size-altering ability back into his body. With his powers restored, he takes on the High Evolutionary and single-handedly defeats him. At this moment, the High Evolutionary receives word the vibranium-recovery mission to Wakanda succeeded, and retreats in order to complete his gene bomb at a different, less-infiltrated location. [West Coast Avengers Annual #3]

The High Evolutionary arrives to his submarine facility and oversees completion of his gene bomb. Meanwhile, his Purifiers, having chased an apparent clone of Gwen Stacy all the way from Michigan to New York City, close in for her capture. [Spectacular Spider-Man (1st series) #142-143] Fortunately, Spider-Man happens to be in the neighborhood and intervenes. The Purifiers immediately recognize him; he has already derailed two of the High Evolutionary’s schemes. They retreat, leaving him to face his former lover whom he believed to be dead and return to the High Evolutionary to once again admit to failure. Disappointed, the High Evolutionary stresses the importance of capturing the woman. Because she is supposedly a clone, she represents a genetic anomaly, as humanity has not yet achieved such technology. After reiterating his orders, he embarks on a quest of his own.

The High Evolutionary travels to the home of the Celestials to learn more about the Young Gods, a group of humans supposedly evolved to a god-like state, but is disappointed to find they are actually a bunch of over-powered, tempestuous youths. As he departs, however, the Young God Daydreamer predicts a horrible future for all of humanity should the High Evolutionary succeed with his plans. Some of the Young Gods decide to return to Earth to stop him; other don’t. After an argument, the rebellious faction splits away and heads to Earth, despite the orders of non-intervention from their superiors.

Meanwhile, on Earth, the Purifiers finally succeed in capturing the Gwen Stacy clone, much to Spider-Man’s conflicted dismay. He follows them back to the High Evolutionary’s submarine fortress. After the inevitable battle, and with the help of the two warring factions of Young Gods, Spider-Man overcomes the Purifiers and rescues Gwen from her stasis chamber. Shortly after Spider-Man informs Gwen he has married another woman, the High Evolutionary approaches them both and orders them to leave. Spider-Man first wants to know why he captured Gwen. The High Evolutionary informs him the woman is not truly Gwen. Initially, he wanted her because he believed her to be a clone. However, after much scrutiny, he learned she was not a true clone, but a woman of similar age and genotype to Gwen who was injected with a virus that rewrote her cellular physiology so as to match that of the real Gwen Stacy. Humanity, it seems, is not as advanced as he believed. [Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #8]

Finally having gathered the necessary materials, the High Evolutionary nears the completion of the genetic bomb, the grand design underlying all of his machinations. In the meantime, he hopes to gather information on the meddlesome Avengers so as to prevent further interference from their end. To do so, the Purifiers reassemble the robotic, former Avenger-ally Jocasta, whose computer brain contains a veritable Avengers database. However, this proves counter-productive, as she manages to escape from her creators and make an emergency phone call to her old teammates’ headquarters. Because the Avengers are currently disbanded, however, the mansion’s computer assembles a reserve team to answer the distress signal, consisting of Captain, Hercules, Falcon, Beast, Hulk, and the eavesdropping villain Yellowjacket.

These interim Avengers locate the distress call, free Jocasta and learn of the High Evolutionary’s sinister plan to detonate a genetic bomb in the process. They follow a clue to the depths of the Pacific Ocean, where they find and board the High Evolutionary’s massive underwater ship. They discover he intends to detonate his genetic bomb beneath Krakatoa, one of the planet’s largest volcanoes, and vow to stop the ship before it reaches its destination. The High Evolutionary quickly catches onto their meddling and fights these intruders to a stand-still. Desperate, they use the ship’s Genesis Chamber to boost Hercules’s power beyond those of a god. Hercules emerges from this genetic accelerator and, with his new abilities, reduces the High Evolutionary’s physical body to a pile of ashes. However, with his final act, the geneticist overloads Hercules’s powers, which grow so powerful he completely discorporates and ceases to exist on their plane of reality. Jocasta, meanwhile, hacks into the ship and, after ordering the Avengers to escape, prematurely detonates the genetic bomb, thus sparing the world from catastrophe. The interim Avengers return home, finally having put a stop to the High Evolutionary’s well-intentioned, although completely misguided, war on humanity. [Avengers Annual #17]